Maghine for operating upon sole-leather blanks



C. C. SMALL MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLE LEATHER BLANKS Filed Sept. 16 1918 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l i Jan. 13. 1925. 1,522,597

' c. c. SMALL MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLE LEATHER BLANKS Fig ed Sept. 19 I .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C/hesier Q fimal Jnnie 5177,62 LL, ldnu'n'z'sirazl'zir 0 Me l' iaze.

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Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

U NITED TATE-s cnns'rnn =0. SMiAIzIifD ECEASED, LATE or NEWTON "HIGHLAN'DIS, MASSACHUSETTS;

"BY JENNIE SMALL, 'ADMINISTRATRIX, "or NEWTON *HI'GHLA'NDS, Massefion'usn'r'rs, ASSIGNOB TO UNITEDS'HOEQMA'GHENERY eon-ronia'rrolv, or rA' TER- SON, NEXV-JERSEY, "A eonrona 'iioiv -'OF NEW T'J'EB'SEY.

IVITAGI'IIIVE FOR OPERA'EING UPQNwSOLEJiEAET'H'ER BLANKS.

Application-filed September 1c, 1918. 'Seria1.i. io..254,2se.

To all whom it may concern.

"Be it known that CHEs'rnR C. SMnLnlate of Newton Highlands, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, de-

5 ceased, invented certain Improvements in Machines for OperatingfUpon Sole-Leather Blanks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for operating upon sole leather blanks and, more particularly, to a machine-for improving the quality and physical characteristics of such *blanks by the application of pressure thereto.

It has been known for sometime that the wearing qualities, appearance, and uniformity of conformation of sole leather blanks, such, for example, as heel 'lifts, shoe soles, and the like, weregreatly improved by subjecting themto compression or condensation underheavy pressure. In pu'rsuanceof this knowledge it has been common practice in the past'topasspieces ofsoleleather through machines in which the 'leather'was subjected to heavy pressure by cooper'ating rolls, but this method of treatment has always been open to the objectionthat the thickness of the leather was appreciably reduced by rolling. This objection is a serious one from the commercial standpoint, inasmuch as the market value of a shoe 'sole or atop lift is dependent, in a very large degree, upon its thickness. With increasing scarcity and demand for sole leather, this consideration has'become of even more importance than in the past. 40 Another type of machine for improving sole leather has been developed, in which Hie blank being treated is confined against lateral expansionby amold comprisingdies which engage and hold the edges of the blank while other dies are actuated to exert very great pressure upon 'the faces of the blank. properly forming the "dies, it has been possible to overcome the objection otdecreasingthe thickness of the edges of the blank, and the product of machines of this type has been veryvsatisfactory. Inasmuch, however,as the machine must eXeit'it's pressure over the entire area ofthe 'blank at one time, it must have verygreat strength, and such machines are .ponderous, expensive and comparatively slow in operation.

The objectofthe presentinvention is to produce "a machine for performing an improving operation upon sole leat'he'r'blanks which shall be --comparati'\-ely liglit, rapid, -and simple in construction and operation andf'yet shall produce work of the 'highest quality, free from the objections above "pointed out.

, Inpur's'uance of this object an important ieature of the lnventlon consists in the provision, In combination, with means for con- -iininga bla'nkagainst lateral eXpansion, of

jmovedprogressively across the face of the blank while the latter is held in a blank edge confiningmold or, conversely, the'mold containing the blank may be moved past the roll. A further improvement in the blank'may be secured by subjecting it to a plurality of pressures, and this may be conveniently effected, without loss'of time or reduction in the productof the machine,

by the provision of aplurality of rolls arranged to act 'upon the blank "successively in ii-single cycle of operation 01": the machine. In one practical embodiment of the invention, the rolls are mounted for -free rotation about stationary axes, and themold containingthe blank is recip'rocated past the roll in such a manner that with two rolls, four separate applications of pressure upon the blank are secured.

A further feature of the invention consists in the provision of'means for confin ing separately a plurality of individual.

blanks in combination with means for simultaneously exerting pressure upon the faces of all the blanks. By thus operating simultaneously upon a plurality of blanks, it becomes possible to increase greatly the production of the machine. It is preferred so to arrange the blank confining molds that the same pressure is transmitted through all the blanks in series, with the substantial advantage that no more pressure or power is required to treat a plurality of blanks than if a single blank were being operated upon. 7 This result may be secured by mounting the blank confining molds approximately in register with each other upon the substantially parallel opposite faces of a floating mold support arranged to pass between opposed rolls acting to exert pressure upon and transmit pressure to the blanks in series, that is to say, the same application of pressure being transmitted through, and effective upon, all the blanks.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a yieldingly mounted edge mold arranged to permit the application of pressure to the face of a blank confined therein by a pressure applying member overlapping and bearing upon the face of the mold. By the provision of a yielding mounting for the mold, the blank contained therein is subjected to pressure regardless of its thickness, the mold yielding to permit the pressure to be applied directly to the blank while confining its edges effectively against lateral expansion. In this connection the mold, is preferably sectional and expansible to permit the blank to be inserted easily, means being provided for contracting the mold upon the blank to hold the latter against expansion during the subsequent application of pressure to the face of the blank, and still another feature of the invention relates to the provision of means for depressing or retracting one section of the mold-in the specific embodiment of the invention hereinafter described, simultancously with its expansion or opening movement-to permit the compressed blank to be discharged edgewise. In a convenient construction in which the mold is disposed tosupport the blank in vertical plane, this improved construction permits the blank to be discharged by gravity after it has been operated upon, with a consequent elimination of the usually complicated blank ejecting mechanism.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in reading the following detailed description of one illustrative embodiment thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 a view partly in elevation and paitly in section on the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 indicates a suitable base, upon which is mounted the main frame 12 of-the machine. The driving shaft 14: is journaled in bearings 16 in the frame 12 and is provided with a pinion 18 meshing with a gear 20 upon the crank shaft 22; A crank 24 keyed on the crank shaft actuates a connecting rod 26 connected at 28 to amold support 30 which is slotted at 32 and is mounted to slide longitudinally of the frame 12 upon gibs 34 bolted to an overhead guide member 36. The slots 32 are sufliciently deep to permit a substantial. amount of side movement of the mold support 30 which thus in effect is mounted to float for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Upon opposite faces of the mold support 30 are secured plates 38 of the identical size and shape of the blanks to be produced. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention herein shown and described, these blanks are soles for boots or shoes. The sole shaped plates 38 are surrounded by sectional, blank edge engaging molds, each of which comprises an upper edge die 40 and a lower edge die l2. Interposed between the die 10 and the mold support 30 are springs 43 which tend to hold the die 40 in engagement with the head of the bolt 44: and spaced somewhat away from the face of the mold support. By virtue of this yielding mounting, the edge die 40 is permitted to yield when pressure is applied to the blank 46 confined in the mold by a pressure roll 18, which extends across the blank and overlaps the face of the die.

The other mold section or die 4L2 has a corresponding yielding mounting in a slide 50, guided for movement in the direction of the depth of the mold by a T slot connection and guide 52. The slide 50 is wedge shaped and abuts against a corre sponding inclined surface 54L formed upon the mold support 30. The two slide members 50 shown at opposite sides of the sup porting member 30 are connected by a pull spring 56 which always tends to draw the slide members toward each other and into firm engagement with the inclined faces 5 1-. The T shaped cross bar 52 is carried by the upper ends of a pair of toggles 58, 60, the lower ends of which are stepped in a cross bar 62 supported at the lower end of a vertical bar 64 secured in the mold support 30 by a key 66. A similar toggle and supporting arrangement 68 is provided at the other end of the mold and the centers of the toggles 58, 68 are connected by a'bar 70 which is normally drawntoward the left, see Fig. 1, by a pull spring 72 connected at one end to the bar 70 and at the other end to a lug 7 f projecting downwardly from the mold support 30. In the position of the parts when the spring 72 is permitted to operate upon the bar 70, the toggles 58, 68 are straighten-ed and the expansible edge mold comprising the dies 40, 42 is closed upon the periphery of the blank, as illustrated inFig. 2. :In the upward movementpfithe slide members 50, produced by ithe straightening ofthe toggles, the said slide members move along the inclinedffaces ol until'at the end of such upward movement, their outerfaces are flush with the corresponding opposite faces of the-member 30, and the dies L42 are flush with thedies 40, forming two parallel, opposite, outwardly facing blank-confining molds substantially in register with each other.

Astop screw 76 adjustablythreaded into the frame 112 is-positioned tobe engaged'by the end of the bar 70 when the latter'is moved to the left hand limit of :its path. By this. means the toggles 58, 68- are broken, 'drawing'the slides downward along the inclined faces 54. The sectional mold is thus expanded to relieve the blank from edge pressure and simultaneously the lower dies 42 are retracted or depressed until their outer faces are flush-with, or below the faeesof,the bottom plates 38 of the molds. \Vith the parts in this position the sole blanks contained in the molds :are free to be discharged edgewise by gravity, leaving the molds empty for the reception of fresh blanks to be operated upon. Shelves 78 are provided, one on each side of the moldsupporting structure, to contain the supplyof blanks to be treated.

Two pairs of freely revoluble rol'ls 80, 82 are journaled in roll carriers 84 and are simultaneously adjustable toward and from each other by wedges-86 interposed between the roll carriers and the upstanding portions of the frame which support the over head guide member 36. The wedges 86 are actuated by screws 88 connected by miter gears 90 to a common shaft 92 provided with a hand wheel 9t'forrotating the shaft to effect the desired adjustment. :By this means, the space between the rolls may readily be adjusted to secure the desired pressure in accordance with the thickness of the stock being operated upon.

The actuation of the machine may be con trolled by any usual or suitable form of one revolution clutch 96 serving to connect and disconnect the. driving pulley to and from the shaft 114;.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Assuming the parts to bein the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the operative picks up soles from the shelves 7 8,0ne on each side of the machine, and inserts them in the corresponding molds. The machine is now started, and, as the bar leaves the stop screw 7 6, the spring 72 causes the toggls 5'8, 68 to be straightened, and the sec tional "edge "molds to he contracted i'i'pon the edges of the blanks tohold them against lateral expansion. As the mold structure continuesto be moved toward theright by the connecting rod 26 which is actuated by the. crank on theshaft 22 it eausesthe molds with the blanks contained therein to be drawn between the pairs of pressure rolls 80, 82 in succession. The floating-mounting of the mold support 30 permits sidewise motion of the molds and blanks to equalize the pressure upon the two blanks, with the result that the SttlIlGPl'QSSLll'GlS transmitted simultaneously through both blanks in series and itstotal amount need be no greater thanthat .required for -a single blank. As the mold structureadvances, the rolls act progressively to apply pressure to the faces .ofthe blanks I. over a limited area extending across the blank'and moving from one boundary to the other as the latter advances between the rolls.

Afterpassing the rolls 80, theblanks-are acted upon by the rolls 82, which effect a second application of pressure upon the facesof the blanks, and as the-crank shaft completes its revolution, the blanks are returnedbetweenxthe two pairs of rolls in succession to the starting position; consequently, each blank in the single cycle of the machine has been-subjected to four distinct applications of pressure.

As the mold structure reaches its initial position, the bar 70 engagestlie stop screw 7 6, the toggles 58, 68 are broken with the consequent opening of the side dies and depression or retraction of the lower dies, permitting the treated blanks to fall out of the =molds which are now ready for the reception of the next pair of blanks.

The machine. may be operated a cycle at a time, as described, or, when an operative has become sufliciently'practiced, the treadle may be held depressed and the machine operated continuously, the fresh blanks be- .ing fed to the molds each time they reach :feeding position.

It should be understood that a machine designed for operating upon sole blanks has been selected and described in detail only for the purpose of affording an illustration of one embodiment of the invention and that the invention is equally applicable to machines for operating upon sole leather blanks of other shapes and descriptions. It will be apparent that the invention provides a machine for performing an improve ing operation upon sole leather blanks, which is comparatively light and simple in construction and operation, and is capable. of large production of work of a high quality with a minimum expenditure of power.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired .to be secured by Letters "Patentiof the United :States' is 1. In a machine for operating upon sole leather blanks, the combination of means for holding an isolated blank While fiat and confining it against lateral expansion, and means operating progressively from one boundary of the blank to the opposite boundary thereof to exert pressure upon the entire face of the blank.

2. In a machine for operating upon sole leather blanks, the combination of means for holding an isolated blank While flat and confining it against lateral expansion, and means for exerting pressure upon a limited area of the face of the blank operating progressively from one edge to the opposite edge of the blank so as to cover the entire face of the blank.

3. In a machine for operating upon sole leather blanks, the combination of means for holding an isolated blank While flat and confining it against lateral expansion, and means movable in a straight path for exerting a rolling pressure progressively across the face of the blank.

4. In a machine for operating upon sole leather blanks, the combination of means for confining a blank While fiat against lateral expansion, and a plurality of means for exerting successive rolling pressures upon the entire blank progressively from one boundary to the opposite boundary thereof.

5. In a machine for operating upon sole leather blanks, the combination of means for engaging the entire edge of a blank While flat and confining it against lateral expansion, and means for exerting a plurality of successive rolling pressures upon and across the face of the blank.

6. In a machine for operating upon sole leather blanks, the combination of means for confining a blank While flat against lateral expansion, and a plurality of means movable through straight paths and operating in succession to exert pressure upon the face of the blank from one boundary to the other.

7. In a machine for operating upon sole leather blanks, the combination of means for confining a blank While flat against lat; eral expansion, and a plurality of means operating in succession to exert a plurality of rolling pressures upon the face of the blank and across the blank from one boundary to the other.

8. In a machine for operating upon sole leather blanks, the combination of means for engaging the entire edges of a plurality of individual blanks and confining them against lateral expansion, and means for simultaneously exerting rolling pressure upon the faces of said blanks.

' 9. In a machine for 'operating'upon sole leather blanks, the combinationpf means for confining a plurality Of individual. blanks against lateral expansion, and means for exerting progressively movmg pressure s1multaneously upon the faces of said blanks in series.

10. In a machine for operating upon sole parallel relation, and means for exerting the same progressively moving pressure simultaneously upon all of said blanks.

11. In a machine for operating upon sole leather blanks, the combination of means for confining a plurality of individual blanks against lateral expansion substantially in register with each other, and means for exerting th same progressively moving pres sure upon, and transmitting it through, all of said blanks.

12. In a machine for operating upon sole leather blanks, the combination of means for supporting a plurality of blanks With their faces in parallel, spaced relation, and means for simultaneously exerting progressively moving pressure upon the opposite outer faces of said blanks.

13. In a machine for operating upon sole leather blanks, the combination of means for confining a plurality of individual blanks against lateral expansion and supporting them With their faces in parallel spaced relation, and means for simultaneously exerting moving pressure upon the faces of said blanks While they are maintained in such relation. I

14:. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a blank edge confining mold, to hold a blank while it is fiat, a pressure roll for exerting pressure upon the face of a blank in the mold, and means for producing relative movement between the roll and the mold to cause pressure to be exerted progressively in a right line. along the face of the blank..

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a mold support, blank edge confining molds facing outwardly on opposite sides of said support, and means for exerting pressure simultaneously 'upon the faces of blanks confined in said molds.

16. In a machine for the class described, the combination of a floating mold support, molds facing outwardly upon opposite sides of said support, pressure rolls mounted to bear upon the faces of the molds, and means for causing relative progressive movement to the rolls across the molds.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a floating mold support, molds facing outwardly upon opposite sides of said support, pressure rolls bearing upon the faces of the molds, and means for moving the mold support between the rolls.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a floating moldsupport,

molds facing outwardly on opposite sides of said support, a plurality of pairs of pressure rolls spaced apart to bear upon the faces of the molds, and means for reciprocating the mold support between said pairs of pressure rolls in succession to cause the rolls to act successively upon blanks confined in the molds.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a support for one face of a blank, a blank edge confining mold mounted upon said support to yield toward the latter, and means for progressively exerting pressure upon the opposite face of a blank confined in the mold.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a mold support, a sec tional edge mold mounted upon the support, and means for exerting pressure upon a blank confined in the mold, one section of the mold being depressible to permit the blank to be. discharged from the mold after the pressure applying operation.

21. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a mold support, a sec tional blank edge confining mold upon said support, means for exerting pressure upon the face of a blank confined in the mold, and means for depressing a section of the mold to permit the blank to be discharged edgewise therefrom.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a mold support, a sectional blank edge confining mold arranged upon the support to confine a blank in vertical position, and means for retracting a section of the edge mold to permit a blank to drop away from the mold.

23. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a sectional, contractile mold, means for contracting the mold upon the edges of a blank, and means for simultaneously expanding the mold and depressing a section thereof to permit a blank to be discharged edgewise from the mold.

24. In a machine of the class described, a mold having mutually perpendicular surfaces to support the edges and one face of a blank, means to apply pressure to a surface narrower than the width of the blank, and mechanism to reciprocate said mold past said means progressively to compress a blank therein.

25. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a support for a plurality of blanks in parallel relation, and means to exert oppositely-directed balancing pressures progressively along opposite faces of different blanks.

26. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a support for the edges and one face of a blank, means progressively operating along one face of a blank supported thereby to compress the blank, and means for manually controlling the pressure on the blank.

27. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a pair of parallel pressurerolls, a work-support in the space between the rolls, and means relatively bodily to move the rolls and the work-support in such a manner that pressure on the work by one rofi is balanced by the pressure of the other ro 28. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a pair of parallel pressure rolls, a work-support interposed between the opposed faces of the rolls, means relatively to reciprocate the rolls and the work-support, and means simultaneously to adjust the rolls toward and from the work-support.

29. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a peripheral support to confine the edges of a blank, means to apply pressure to a blank confined thereby progressively along one face of the blank, and manually-operable means to adjust the amount of pressure on the blank.

30. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a peripheral support to confine the edges of a blank, a roll progressively to compress an entire blank confined thereby in moving from one edge to the opposite edge of the blank, and manuallyoperable means to move the roll toward and from the blank to adjust the pressure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JENNIE M. SMALL, Adme'aistmtm'w 0f the estate of Chester 0.

Small, deceased. 

